Guests Attending the Golden Panda Awards: Art Facilitates Exchanges and Mutual Learning Between Civilizations

The first Golden Panda Awards has brought artists from all across the globe to gather together in Chengdu, the host city. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the awards’significance, our journal’sreporter interviewed three guests on the Golden Panda Awards’role in promoting cultural diversity, world cultural heritage protection, exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and young talent inspiration.

Dorine Dubois, Chief of the Executive Office of the Culture Sector, UNESCO

Reporter: UNESCO has long been committed to the protection of world cultural heritage and the promotion of cultural diversity. Whatdo you think of the Golden Panda Awards’role in facilitating cultural exchanges, construction, and mutual learning?

Dorine: Sichuan Province is home to numerous intangible cultural heritage items, of particular note the silk craftsmanship that has been included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Today, I am glad to see that Sichuan Province has invested a lot into its cultural and creative industries, ascan be proved by the Golden Panda Awards. I can feel that Sichuan Province truly wants to develop and strengthen its cultural industry, with its intangible cultural heritage being a central part and indeed driving force, so as to realize the development of the entire province. Currently, UNESCO has included the cultural industry in its international development agenda for after 2030, and we hope to carry out the same cooperation with Sichuan Province.

Emmanuelle Pérès, CEO of Foundation Prospective and Innovation

Reporter: In your view, giventhe current integration of – and iteration between – thoughts, artistic content, and technology, how can we contribute more cutting-edge forces to international cultural exchanges and cooperation?

Pérès: The development of cultural and creative industries can not only promote the world’sdevelopment, but also advance the cause of world peace. Therefore, we must organize specific activities to help young people recognize cultural diversity as much as possible. Only in travel and communication can they realize cultural diversity, help foster world peace, and face this era’s new challenges together.

Reporter: Do you have any inspirational words for young artists as well as professionals working in the film and television industry?

Pérès:My first suggestion to young artists is to be confident. They must believe in themselves, dare to try, and exert their value in the field of art. My second suggestion is to keep an open mind and explore different civilizations to experience cultural diversity, learn about different stories, and spark new inspiration from them. Perhaps this method can play an educational role and help lead the way for world development.

Wu Zhong, Secretary-General of the China-Europe Economic and Cultural Exchange Association

Reporter: In which field do you think the awards can best promote cultural cooperation between China and Europe? What do you think of the influence of the Golden Panda Awards on cultural exchanges between the two regions?

Wu Zhong: Chinese pandas have exceeded the scope of rare animal protection and sharing, and have expanded their role to be a noted symbol of communication and cultural exchanges between China and other countries all over the world. They are playing a unique role in exporting China’s ‘harmony culture’and positioning their kindness and harmony as concepts that transcend ideological and cultural differences. To this extent, although the Golden Panda Awards took film and television as its chosen medium, the organizers also did well to adopt some unique ideas in addition, focusing on pandas as a ‘protagonist’in all activities’themes, which would significantly strengthen bonds between peoples and facilitate co-existence and cultural exchanges between China and Europe.